Pharmaceutical Biotechnology MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

About the course

The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology course provides detailed insight into the technologies that allow development and production of biopharmaceuticals from start to finish (from pre-clinical studies, to clinic, through to marketing) that could lead to cures to most major diseases.

• A high practical content prepares graduates to quickly enter an industrial setting
• Our reputation of 104 years pharmacy teaching ensures we produce graduates of the highest calibre
• Develop a diverse range of skills, with an inter-disciplinary subject, based on the teaching/research expertise of our experienced practitioner and research-based staff
• In the global sphere, pharmaceutical biotechnology courses are rare and no other course offers such a broad scope
• Our range of specialist modules delivers up-to-date subject matter on multiple protein expression systems for production of diverse biopharmaceuticals, encompassing a range of platform technologies
• Suitable for direct undergraduate progression, as well as experienced professionals in the sector, and international students
• With positive feedback from international experts in higher education and large pharmaceutical companies, your learning is relevant to current practice
• We have received major Government and private funds to develop our state-of-the- art laboratories and purchase specialist equipment to match that in the best industrial laboratories

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Key facts

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time

Attendance: Up to five days per week, for one–five hours depending on your mode of study

Start date: September 2014

Entry and admission criteria

An honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant subject such as in a bioscience or science including pharmacy, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry, microbiology or molecular biology (or equivalent)
Alternatively, a portfolio of professional and/or academic qualifications of equivalent standing to an honours degree

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it. To find out more, please visit dmu.ac.uk/international|

Teaching and assessment

You will be expected to participate in an extensive programme of learning that will require full commitment and focus throughout your study.

The learning environment for the first two semesters will be varied with lectures, tutorials, laboratories and computer laboratories. You can expect to spend about half of your directed study time working at the bench in our research laboratories. In the third semester the learning venue will depend on your dissertation topic and will be aimed at guided self-study.

International students come to study in the UK because the quality of our teaching is amongst the best in the world, offering a varied selection of teaching methods to suit all learning requirements.

Course modules

The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology course delivers up-to-date subject matter on multiple protein expression systems, (bacteria, baker's yeast, insect, mammalian and plant cells) for production of diverse biopharmaceuticals, encompassing a range of platform technologies.

It focuses on the role of proteins as therapeutic agents and as tools for the identification of such agents. It provides insight into how a researcher may select and use appropriate protein expression systems for the large-scale to mass production of a protein, that would ultimately lead to its complete characterisation before it is applied to man.

You will also focus on the business and intellectual property aspects that are interwoven with biotechnological innovation and entrepreneurship to enable career progression. Here too, there is the option to conduct independent research in the third semester which will culminate in a written dissertation. 180 credits must be completed to achieve the full master’s. Modules include:

• Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Toxicology (15 credits)
  discusses the underlying principles that allow for the selection of a biopharmaceutical in the treatment of a disease.

• Microbial Fermentation/ Downstream Processing, Drug Development (15 credits) looks at the role of microbial fermentation drug development as well as issues of scale-up, bulk production, downstream processing, bio-safety and toxicology.

• Gene Cloning, Expression and Analysis (30 credits)
  provides practical skills and theoretical considerations covering cell culture, gene isolation and protein expression.

• Bioinformatics I and II (15 credits)
  provides an understanding of research tools and methodologies used in molecular investigations as well as the basic theory and employment of bioinformatics.

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation (15 credits)
  aims to provide a guide to the key theories about enterprise and innovation, looking at their relationship to small businesses and to consider the methods that are taken to promote and finance them.

• Research Methods (15 credits)
  with elective depending on type of research chosen for the third semester.

• Research Dissertation (60 credits)
  is a 22 week research project with elective research in business, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical biotechnology or molecular toxicology topics.

Graduate careers

This course has been designed to give you a competitive advantage in gaining employment in any biopharmaceutical field all over the world. These can include; large global biopharmaceutical companies, small-to-medium biotechnology companies, academic institutions or research institutions allied to human health.

Fees and funding

UK/EU Full-time £5740 Part Time Year 1
£3827 Year 2
£1913 International
Full-time £13,500

Scholarships

As part of the universities commitment to enhancing the personal and career development of our graduates. We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2013/14.
Alumni scholarship programme. For more information visit Health and Life Sciences Alumni Scholarships >|